General Chat

I have to say I was pleased when I heard they were banning it - if it stops teenagers smoking or even starting then it will have been worth it. Like Allen Carr says it's the only thing he can think of that you wish you were doing it when you're not and you wish you weren't doing it when you are! It is addictive and i find all governments have been hypocrites on this subject all along but I have to say the NHS are being very generous in trying to help people stop. Yes it is difficult but not half as difficult as I expected and in a funny sort of way I think I'm disappointed that is hasn't been harder! Debby

As an Ex smoker of 60/day I am convinced that they should be classified as drugs. Kicking the habit totally took me approx two year. By this I mean that the initial craving for a smoke after breakfast or after a decent evening meal with friends was often still with me for up to 18 to 22 months after my last cigarette. WALTER

Just want to clarify my previous comment (as it seems to have been misunderstood). As much as I dislike smoking, I'm NOT iadvocating a total ban on smoking, as it's impractical, but I am 100% in favour of the ban in public places. I'm CERTAINLY not in favour of a ban on alcohol. It does irritate me immensely when drinkers are sterotyped as drunkards and drink drivers. I drink, but drink responsibly. My drinking has never harmed anyone else. However, I have been forced to sit and breath in other peoples smoke countless times, which is proven health risk.

When cigarettes cause a fifth of the amount of death;injury; crime and vandalism;traffic accidents;family breaks up; addiction; et al as alcohol, I would support a complete ban on cigarettes. As a non-smoker, some action was doubtless necessary, but methinks there has been a slight over - re-action. Happy days

Hear Hear Harry - ever the voice of reason. Jacqui

NO. Jean.

I agree. I keep trying to stop smoking and it is the going out to smokey pubs that gets me started again every time. I see someone else puffing away and I want one. That said I'll probably end up stood outside with the other smokers lol. As for banning alcohol - NO WAY!!!!! Jack x

If the sale of cigarettes is harming the health of the nation I advocate a total bann on alcohol (I don't care 'cause I don't drink), a total bann on all fast food outlets (all mothers to be introduced to fresh vegetables and how to cook them), a total bann on all transport except for bicycles and a total bann of mobile phones because they upset my karma and I HATE THEM. Jean (an ex smoker of 6 years who believes it is a persons choice whether to smoke or not to smoke).

'One in two long-term smokers will die prematurely as a result of smoking – half of these in middle age. The most recent estimates show that around 114,000 people in the UK are killed by smoking every year, accounting for one fifth of all UK deaths.' Around 3500 people are killed on the roads and only about one fifth is alcohol related. Lets get it right Bob

Lol Jean & Meercat And a ban on kids with snotty noses screaming at the checkouts at your local supermarket - not good for the stress levels. Loud crap music blasting out of cars - want to punch their lights out! Dog owners who let their dogs go to the toilet on playing fields or pavements - now that is dangerous too! Ooo this is fun! Debby

Bob What are the other 4/5ths dying of - heart disease brought on by obesity perhaps? And how many of the 140k killed through smoking were non smokers? Debby

Helen I have the right to smoke and I do, I have the right to drink and I don't, I have the right to pollute the atmosphere with my car and I do. So you never ever go in a vehicle that pollutes the air, you never have a drink, hmm we all have rights. xxhugxx

Just to clarify my reason for this post, I think some of you think I am for this ban, IM NOT! My point is that, if tabacco is so harmful then they should ban it all together, but they wont because of the heavy taxes on tabacco. i just find the whole thing wrong, I would like to see lots of things banned or if not banned then at least changed. alcohol abuse is on the increase,smoking is on the decrease,what do they do extend Pub opening hours, ITS CRAZY!!! 1,

Roxanne, Good that you clarified that. Thought I was arguing against you for a change. Your comments are very apt. Happy days

Of course tobacco is a drug - we all know that and acknowledge it, those of us who smoke - the latest escapade by this parliament is actually the usual 'smoke screen' (if you'll pardon the pun) to deflect away from other much more important and relevant matters being discussed at the moment about we (joe public) again have no say in the matter - I'm talking about the anti-terrorist bill. Let the non-smokers gloat (as they are doing) - it will be a 10 minute wonder - to enforce it totally will be impossible - any intelligen person can see that - so what is the point to it? I personally think there are far more important issues that need to be dealt with before smokers are once again persecuted, and I just wish parliament would get off their butts and sort out the country's security (for one thing) before all this tangent-building nonsense! Mind you, I suppose if a terrorist were having a crafy fag on the street before planting a bomb, and the police picked him up for smoking in a public place - then the ban might have some worth? lol Jacqui - who thinks the world has gone mad!

Yes Edited: No

The Government have short Memories, they use to send are Armed Forces free ciggies, and yes the increase of taxes lost by people not buying them will effect all TAX payers, just look at the air rage increase, people started drinking more when they banned people from smoking, i feel its about choice and yes respecting others, people should have that choice, to smoke or not to smoke, just as others have the choice to sit in smokey places or not, Oh and by the way the Government are still allowed to smoke in the bar at the Houses of Parliament Lil

These arguments always seem to be about rights and rarely about responsibilities. Bans on anything always produce a black market. It's the 'war on drugs' that inflates the prices and fuels the addict's need for more and more money to feed the habit rather than the need for more and more drugs themselves. Plenty of people use drugs on a daily basis and live perfectly functional lives. It goes in fashions as to what is and is not acceptable. Much literature and music is created under the influence and the artists hailed as geniuses. Politicians have been known to be addicted to opium and laudenum. It goes on and on. Society seems to be schizophrenic about the whole issue. I'd prefer to see everything de-criminalised - yes, everything - but for everyone to be responsible for how they behave if they choose to use mind-altering substances. None of this nonsense that 'he didn't mean to kill anyone when he got behind the wheel when he was drunk/high, so it's not really so bad,' or 'they beat her up when they were drunk/high so they didn't really know what they were doing'. We have plenty of laws in place to deal with abberant behaviour and if you steal to feed your habit or beat someone up it shouldn't matter if your're drunk, high or of sound mind. Let's face it, it's been said that sugar would be banned if it was discovered today! I'm all for a ban on smoking in public places , but please, what we do in our own homes should be our own business. Let the law intervene only if we affect someone else negatively. PS I don't smoke and I'm not a drug addict. :-)

Jacqui I am a non smoker but I am not gloating............ I'll admit I not objecting to a ban but the only time smoking ever really bothers me is if I'm eating or some inconsiderate person blows smoke in my face or waves their cig about so it's going in my face. Otherwise I have more important things to think about. Juliexx

its easy and i can see not far off. tax internet users,like a tv licence. derek